Oil well equipment



Jime 25, 1940. 4 J. H. MQIEVOYI AL OIL WELL EQUIPMENT J. H. MOEYOY El AL Filed July- 16, 1938 E 4 g g I "HI!! 4i "llon. WELL zounuzm 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Patented JuneZS, 1940.

. OIL WELL EQUIPMENT Joseph H. McEvoy and James H. Howard, Houston, vTen, assignors to McEvoy Company, Iiouston, Tom, a corporation or Texas Application My 1c, 1938, Serial No. 219,632

' 10 Claims. (Cl. 166-14) This invention relates to the art of oil wells and provides certain improvements in oil well equipment, as well as a novel method forhandling and completing the installation of oil well equip- 5 ment. Certain of the novel features of this invention, however, have application beyond the art of oil wells.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide novel means and a novel method mit disconnection of the tubing from its support when it is desirable to lower the tubing for performing certain operations in the lower part of 20 the well. It is desirable at certain times in the life of a producing well to unhang its tubing and lower the same in the well, so that the lower tub ing end may be used; for example, as a feeler to determine if the screen or perforated pipe has 25 risen from its normal position adjacent the well bottom. It may be also desirable to lower temporarily the tubing for recompressing the packing of the well packer near the well bottom, if the findings of the feeler and .the behavior .of the 30 well indicate that such is necessary.

A further object is to provide means for hanging and releasing, at will, oil well tubing from its hanger support while the wells mairfained under pressure. a

35 Another object is to provide a tubing hanger that will permit a string of tubing connected together with collars to-be passed therethrough.

Another object is to provide a hanger'for detachably supporting a string of tubing or casing,

' which hanger will readily pass through auxiliary pressure control attachments which are temporarily mounted. on well heads when tubing is being installed in a well or is being removed therefrom.

5 Another object of the invention is to provide a tit on along the axis of one part will cause means to act and lock the other part against relative rotation, if torque is applied thereto.

Another object is to provide an improved coupling device for the set-shoes of oil well equip- 5- ment.

A further object of this invention is taprovide an improved type of coupling device,

Another object is to provide a coupling device for two cooperating parts, such as tubes or rods, hollow or solid, round or polygonal in cross-section, whereby tension or compression in the direction of or along the axis of one member will be imparted to the other member.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended "claims, and the accompanying drawings, which voil well equipment embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is-a central longitudinal view in section of another embodiment of this invention.

including a christmas tree and also means embodying this invention.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section showing a setshoe embodying this invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded view partly in elevation and partly in cross-section of a coupling device embodying this invention. f

Figure 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross-section of another form of the coupling embodying this invention. 40

Figure 8 is an exploded view of still another form of the coupling embodying this invention.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectionalview taken on lines 9-9 of Figure 6 and is similar to a view taken on lines 9-9 of either Figures 7 or 8. I

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, Figure '1 shows a casing head I which is internally threaded at its lower end for connection with a conventional string of casing. The casing head I has a lateral flange 2, and a tapered seat 3.

The casing head I is also provided with one or more ports 4 through which fluid'ma'y be delivered to or from the oil'well. Mounted on the tapered seat 8 is a tapered bushing or hollowhanger body member 5 which I PATENT OFFICE. Y

is provided with packing rings 6 of any suitable material. These rings 6 form a seal between the tapered end of the hanger body member 5 and the seat 3. The hanger body member 5 is secured to casing head flange 2 by means of the bolts I and the flange or ring 8. The flange 8 may be formed integral with the body member 5 or may be a separate. ring disposed on the shoulder 9 of the hanger body member 5, as shown in Figure 1.

The body member 5 is formed at its lower end with a shoulder II]. This shoulder I; if desired, may be provided by a separate ring threaded into the interior of the lower end of body member 5. A packing II of any suitable material is supported by the shoulder I 0. The packing II is preferably a duprene solid ring, but may be formed of rubber, or other elastic material. A ring or gland I2, preferably formed of metal such as steel, is placed on the top of packing ring I I.

Above the metallic ring I2 are two concentrically arranged, cylindrical bushings I3 and I4.

. The outer bushing I4 has threaded engagement with the interior of the body member 5. The outer bushing I4 is also provided on its inner side with grooves I5 extending vertically from end to end thereof. 'The inner bushing I3 is formed with splines or feathers IS on its exterior surface. The bushings I3 and I4 are assembled with the splines I6 received by the grooves I5. This connection between the two bushings I3 and II will prevent rotary movement of the inner bushing I3, but permit it to move axially, that is toward or away from ring I2. The adjacent edges of the bushing I3 and ring I2 are preferably tapered so that bushing I3 will be properly centered and seated by the ring I2 (see Figure 1).

The usual tubing of an oil well is to be secured to the internally threaded lower end of a tubular hanger mandrel 20. The preferred proportions of the several parts are such that the hanger mandrel 20 has a close, sliding. fit within the lower end 2| of the hanger body member 5, the rings II and I2, and the upper portion of the bushing I3. The hanger mandrel 20 is detachably connected to the bushing I3 for hanging the oil well tubing. This detachable connection may be provided by a lefthand acme thread on the outer surface of the hanger mandrel and an acme thread on the inner side of the lower end of the bushing I3. drel 20 is internally threaded with threads of righthand pitch to fit' righthand pitch threads of handling joint.

A swaged nipple 25 is threaded into the interior of the upper end of the hanger body member 5.

The upper end of the nipple 25 is of reduced ex-' ternal diameter and is externally threaded for connection with conventional oil well accessories. The nipple 25, for example, may be provided with the conventional Christmas tree well known to the oil well art. Or the nipple 25 may carry the usual, conventional combination of master control valve and blow-out preventer.

The equipment of this invention is particularly useful with producing, high pressure oil wells which are maintained under control at all times. Normally the tubing supported by the hanger mandrel 20 is hung in a stationary position. That is, the hanger mandrel 20. is hung or arranged in the manner illustrated by Figure 1. In this position of the hanger mandrel 20. the weight of its tubing is carried by the packing II, which is, therefore, compressed or squeezed in the space between the hanger mandrel 20, the

The upper end of the hanger manring I2 and the hanger body member 5 to provide an efficient sealing means.

When the hanger mandrel 20 is to be unhung, a drill pipe or other suitable tubing handling means (not shown) is passed downwardly through the accessories mounted on the nipple 25 and also through the nipple 25, until its movement is arrested by the hanger mandrel 20. The drill pipe is then rotated until it is completely screwed into the upper, internally threaded end of the hanger mandrel 20. It will be noted that the internal diameter of the nipple 25 is sufliciently large "to, pass the size of drill pipe which is required for connection with the hanger mandrel 20.

When the drill pipe and hanger mandrel 20 are secured together, continued rotary movement of the drill pipe in the same direction will effect rotary movement of the hanger mandrel 20 relative to the bushing I3; which as previously explained is held against rotation by the bushing I4. This rotary movement of the hanger mandrel 20 will effect its disconnection from the bushing I3, so that the tubing may be lowered by means of the drill pipe. The overall, external diameter of the upper mandrel portion including its external acme thread is preferably somewhat smaller than the external diameter of its lower portion which extends below the acme thread. This relative proportioning will permit the hanger mandrel 20 to pass completely through I the rings I2 and II, and the end 2I of the body member 5 as the tubing is lowered. The lower hanger mandrel portion, that is the portion below the acme thread, is preferably cylindrical and assists in maintaining the acme thread clear of the rings II and I2 as the tubing is lowered or raised.

When the tubing is to be again hung, the drill pipe is raised until the acme thread of the bushing I3 rests on the acme thread of the hanger mandrel 20 or until movement of the hanger mandrel 20 is arrested. The drill pipe is then rotated to couple the bushing I3 to the hanger mandrel 20. After hanger mandrel 20 is connected to bushing I3, the tubing is supported on packing I'I, thereby relieving the handling joint from its previous tension load so that the handling joint may be easily unscrewed from the righthand pitch thread of hanger mandrel 20. The drill pipe is then backed out until it passes a control valve (not shown), which latter is then closed. The drill pipe may then be completely withdrawn from the well equipment.

The thread on the interior of the upper hanger mandrel end is of the type commonly used for oil well tubing and drill pipe, but the threads on the exterior of the hanger mandrel 20 are of a different type. This construction is provided so that when the tubing is to be lowered the drill pipe or handling joint will be sufllciently screwed into the hanger mandrel 20, before the latter is moved relatively to the bushing I3. The handling joint is preferably raised, after connection with the hanger mandrel 20, to pick up the tubing and relieve the bushing I3 of its load while the hanger mandrel 20 and bushing I3 are being uncoupled, by lefthand rotation of handling joint. The two sets of threads are also such that continued rotary movement of the drill pipe in one direction will couple it to the hanger mandrel 20 and then uncouple the latter from the bushing I3, and that continued rotary movement in the reverse direction, when the tubing-is to be hung. will first couple the hanger mandrel 20 to the V provided with an annular stop surface 26 and an annular shoulder 21. With this arrangement the mandrel 29 will engage the stop surface 26 and prevent engagement of the bushing 13 with the shoulder 21, if the mandrel 20 is raised with the bushing I3 secured thereon as inFigure 1.

The embodiment of Figure 2, except as to details which will now be explained, is substantially the same in construction, and operates in sub- .bushings l3 and I4 ofFig'ure 1, are so connected that the bushing 3| limits the extent of possible upward movement of the bushing 30. This feature is secured by limiting the grooves 32 in the bushing 3| to the lower portion thereof. The splines or feathers 33 of the bushing 39 bytheir engagement within the grooves 32 prevent rotation of the bushing 30 and prevent further upward movement of the bushing 30 when they (splines 33) engage the upper end 34 of the grooves 32.- Itis also to be noted that the bushing 30 is materially shorter than the bushing l3 of Figure 1. The embodiment of Figure 2 also omits the nipple shoulder 21 of the Figure 1 construction and provides the tapered surface 35. The packing 3'! of Figure 2 also is shown as being formed of a plurality of rings instead of a single ring as in Figure 1.

The bushing 3| may be initialiy tightened into engagement with ring l2 to maintain packing 31 in place when it is not subjected to the weight of the well tubing.

In the practice of this invention, the tubing hanging and unhanging operation can be performed without removing the conventional Christmas tree or master control valve and blow out preventer, if such are being used with the present equipment. The present invention therefore, permits hanging and unhanging of the well tubing while the well is held under pressure.

Figure 4 illustrates a well having equipment embodying this invention and shows the tubing in position prior to its beinghung. The equipment of the well in Figure 4 includes a surface or short string casing 59, a long string casing 5|, andtubing. 52 connected by collar 52'. .The' long string casing 51 is connected to the casing head I. The casing head I is provided with a quick closing plug valve 53 and a blank bull plug 54. The casing head I forms part of a Christmas tree which includes-a master tubing valve 55, a stuffing box 56, an auxiliary valve 57. a needle-valve 58 to control well flow, and a pipe connection 59 which leads to field flow tanks (not shown).

The tubing 52 is carried by the hanger man drel 29 which is suspended from the handling joint 65 extending through thecasing head I and stufilng box 56. The handling joint 65 is -supported by a conventional swivel and is also connected by hose to mud pumps (not shown). These mud pumps force the mud through the handling joint 65 and the tubing 52 into the well.

The mud circulate upwardly within the casing 5i and finds exit t ough valve 53.

At the lower end of tubing 52 is arranged a packer liner 15, two joints II of blank liner, a screen or perforated pipe 12, and a set shoe l3, to'which tubing is secured' by left-hand thread to facilitate release of tubing. The packer liner 15 includes a packer compressionsleeve l and packer canvas 14, which, when compressed, forms a seal between liner and casing The bottom of the long string casing 5| is at l6, below which the open well hole is plastered with mud. The oil sandstrata 0f,the. well is indicated at H. Y

When it is desirable to hang the tubing 52, the handling joint 65-is raised and operated to secure the hanger mandrel 29 to the bushing l3 (see Figure l) as previously described. The handling joint 65 is then uncoupled from the hanger mandrel 29 and raised above the master valve 55. This valve 55 is then closed and the handling joint 65 may be backed out of the s'tufiing box 56 while the well is held under control.

When it is desirable to again lower the tubing i 65, the handling joint 65 is inserted into the stuffing box 56. The master control valve 55 is next opened to permit the handling joint 65 to be connected to the hanger mandrel 20. During the entire operation for unhanging the tubing 52,

the well pressure may be maintained under control;

This application" describes the invention as' applied to the h ging of well tubing. The invention, however, s also applicable to the means for connecting thewell screen and liner'to the lower end of the string of drill pipe or'tubing being used to set the screen and liner in the well bottom and then to release the same.

The set shoe 13, as shown by Figure 5, is also mits relative longitudinal or axial movement. a

.The male member 92 is externally threaded for engagement with the internally, threaded bushing 9|. These threads are preferably acme threads of left-hand pitch. Thebushing 9| is yieldingly urged against a ring 93, which is threaded into the body member 99, by a helical spring 94. This spring 94 encircles the male member 92, is spaced therefrom, and is arranged between bushing 9| and a ring 95 which rests on shoulder 96 of the body member 90. The tubular element or member 92 has an annular shoulder normally in longitudinal engagement with the upper end of the female portion of the set shoe, as shown in Figure 5, whereby the tubular member 92 and the female member are normally disengageabl by relative rotational movement.

Figures 6 and 9 show another embodiment of the coupling device. This coupling device comprises a body member I00 to which is splined a n or bushing Ml. The nut or bushing "II is inte llythreaded for connection witha similarly threaded male member I02. The body member I09 has a shoulder I03 against whichthe nut llll may abut.

g In Figure 7 the nut .l0l is arranged between an annular shoulder I04 and removable ri'ng I06 positioned within the body I05. The spring I01 which is interposed between the shoulder I04 and nut IOI yieldingly urges the latter toward the ring I06.

A modified tubing hanger is shown in Figure 8. The body member, H is tapered to seat in a tapered well head, has an annular internal shoulder III and a removable ring H2. A nut MI is splined to the body member and is yieldingly urged toward the ring I I2 by the spring I I3. A pipe member or tubing II 4, at one end, is externally threaded for connection with the nut IN and is internally threaded for connection with a threaded rod 5.

Ihe foregoing is illustrative, and it will be understood that this invention includes all em bodiments and modifications of this invention coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In well equipment, the combination comprising a hollow hanger body member having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a ring carried on the top of said packing, a bushing supported by said ring, a tubing hanger mandrel having threaded connection with said bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, and a second bushing secured to said body member and splined to the outer side of said first-mentioned bushing to prevent. rotation thereof during rotation of said mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable to effect disconnection with said first-mentioned bushing and adapted to be then lowered through said body member, packing and ring.

2. In well equipment, the combination comprising a casing head having a tapered seat, a

- hollow hanger body member disposed on said seat and having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a ring carried on the top of said packing, a bushing supported by said ring, a tubing hanger mandrel having threaded connection .with said bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, and a'sec- 0nd bushing secured to said body member and splined to the outer side of said first-mentioned bushing to prevent rotation thereof during rotation of said mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable to efiect disconnection with said firstmentioned bushing and adapted to be then lowered through said body member, packing and ring.

3. In well equipment, the combination comprising a hollow hanger body member having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a bushing supported by said packing, a tubing hanger mandrel having threaded connection with said bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, and a second bushing secured to said body member and splined to the outer side of said first-mentioned bushing to prevent rotation thereof during rotation of said mandrel, said mandrel being movable relative to said first-mentioned bushing to effect disconnection therefrom and adapted to be then lowered through said body member, packing and ring.

4. In well equipment, the combination comprising a casing head having a tapered seat, a hollow hanger body member disposed on said seat and having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a bushing supported by said packing, a tubing hanger mandrel h'aving threaded connection with said bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, and

a second bushing secured to said body member and splined to the outer side of said first-mentioned bushing to prevent rotation thereof during rotation of said mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable to effect disconnection with said firstmentioned bushing and adapted to be then lowered through said body member, packing and ring. r

5. In well equipment, the combination comprising a hollow hanger body member having an inwardly extending annular shoulder, annular packing supported by said shoulder, a bush-v ing supported by said packing and mounted for axial movement, means for engaging said bushing to prevent relative rotation thereof, and a hanger mandrel for well tubing, said hanger mandrel extending through said annular packing and being supported by detachable connection with said bushing to hang said tubing, said bushing being adapted to place the load of said supported hanger mandrel on said packing to eifcct a seal about said hanger mandrel, said hanger mandrel being rotatable relative to said bushing to effect disconnection therefrom and being adapted upon disconnection from said bushing to be lowered through said bushing, said packing and said body member, said hanger mandrel being adapted to be connected with said bushing by being raised through said packing into said bushing and by being rotated relative to said bushing.

6. In well equipment, the combination comprising a hollow hanger bodymember having an.

inwardly extending annular shoulder, annular packing supported by said shoulder, a bushing supported by said packing and mounted for axial movement, a second bushing secured to said body member and splined to said first-mentioned bushing to prevent relative rotation thereof, and a hanger mandrel for well tubing, said hanger mandrel extending through said annular packing and being supported by detachable connection with said first-mentioned bushing to hang said tubing, said first-mentioned bushing being adapted to place the load of said supported hanger mandrel on said packing to effect a seal about said hanger mandrel, said hanger mandrel being rotatable relative to said first-mentioned bushing to effect disconnection therefrom and connection therewith, said hanger mandrel upon disconnection from said first-mentioned bushing being adapted to be lowered through said first-mentioned bushing, said packing, and said body member.

7. In well equipment, the combination comprising a well head having a tapered seat, a hollow hanger body'member disposed on said seat and having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a bushing supported by said packing, a tubing hanger man.- drel having detachable connection with said bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, spline means between said body member and said bushing to prevent rotation thereof during rotation of said mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable relative to said bushing to effect connection or disconnection therefrom and adapted to be lowered or raised through said body member and packing to position said hanger mandrel for connection or disconnection with said bushing.

8. In well equipment, the combination comprising a casing head having a tapered seat, a hollow hanger body member disposed on said seat and having an inwardly extending shoulder, packing supported on said shoulder, a bushing supported by said packing, a tubing hanger mandrel having detachable connection with said -bushing to support the entire load of the mandrel, spline means connected to'said body member and the outer side of the said bushing to prevent rotation thereof during rotation 01' saidmandrel, said mandrel being rotatable to eflect disconnection with said bushing and adapted to be then lowered through said body member, packing and bushing- 9. A set shoe for oil wells, said set shoe comprising a hollow member having an opening in its upper end, substantially annular upper and lower abutments arranged in said body member,

an internally threaded element'being mounted threaded element, said tubular element having a shoulder normally in longitudinal engagement l 5 with said upper end of said hollow m mber, whereby said hollow and tubular members are normally disengageable by relative rotational movement.

4 10. A set shoe for oil wells, said set shoe comprising a hollow member having an opening in its upper end, substantially annular upper and lower abutments arrangedin said body member, a connection element being. mounted in said body for movement between said abutments and being normally in engagement with said upper abutment, spring means interposed between said lower abutment and said connection element, and a.

tubular element normally extending through said opening and having detachable engagement with said connection element, said tubular element having a shoulder normally in longitudinal engagement with said upper end of said hollow member and being disengageable from said hollow member and connectionelement by rotational movement relative thereto. I

' JAMES H. HOWARD.

JOSEPH H. WOY. 

